ANGAHOOK-OTWAY INVESTIGATION DISCUSSION PAPER VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 2003 WHAT IS VEAC? The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council was established in 2002 – under the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council Act 2001 – to replace the Environment Conservation Council (ECC) as the body providing the State Government with independent advice on strategic public land-use planning. The five members of VEAC are: (Chair) Dr Brian Robinson,AM, FTSE, B.Sc., Ph.D. – The former chair of the Environment Protection Authority; a wealth of experience in sustainable development and natural resources management. Dr Sarah Ewing, B.Sc (Hons), M.Sc., Ph.D., Grad. Dip. Ed. – Currently a member of the Victorian Catchment Management Council and formerly a deputy member of the Australian Landcare Council; many years experience in catchment and natural resource management issues. Mr Duncan Malcolm – Currently the Chairman of the Gippsland Coastal Board and Watermark Inc.; immediate past Chairman of Lakes and Wilderness Tourism Association, immediate past chair and current board member of Irrigation Association of Australia and member of Victorian Coastal Council. Dr David Mercer, BA (Hons), Ph.D., Dip.Ed. – Fellow of The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand; broad expertise in natural resource management, recreation and tourism and also highly regarded academic experience. Mrs Eda Ritchie, Grad. Dip. Bus. – Formerly a member of the Environment Conservation Council,Trust for Nature Board and the Chairperson of the Western Region Coastal Board; has a strong background in farming in Western Victoria. SUBMISSIONS INVITED Submissions are now invited from interested groups and individuals for consideration for the Draft Proposals Paper to be published early in 2004. Submissions should be addressed to the Executive Officer at the address below or by fax or e-mail. If submissions are sent by fax or e-mail, please include a postal address if you wish to receive progress reports on the investigation. The submission period closes on FRIDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2003. NOTE THAT ONLY SUBMISSIONS SENT DIRECTLY TO VEAC CAN BE TREATED AS SUBMISSIONS There will be further opportunities for submissions following publication of the Draft Proposals Paper. Unless specifically requested otherwise, all submissions to VEAC become public documents. If you wish your submission to be considered confidential, a written request must accompany the submission. If the confidentiality request is not accepted, your submission will be returned to you. Information contained in all submissions may also be stored and used by VEAC or the Department of Sustainability and Environment, for purposes relating to the Angahook-Otway Investigation and subsequent government consideration of matters related to the investigation. Contact details Victorian Environmental Assessment Council 3rd Floor, 250 Victoria Parade East Melbourne Victoria 3002 Ph: (03) 9412 5100 Toll Free: 1800 134 803 Fax: (03) 9412 5153 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.veac.vic.gov.au ANGAHOOK-OTWAY INVESTIGATION DISCUSSION PAPER VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 2003 Published by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council Level 3, 250 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne 3002, September 2003 Also published on www.veac.vic.gov.au © Victorian Environmental Assessment Council 2003 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Printed by Printgraphics, 14 Hardner Road, Mt Waverly 3149, on recycled paper. ISBN 1 74106 688 3 For more information contact the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council on (03) 9412 5100 or email [email protected] Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Photographic Credits Peter Kinchington All images unless otherwise stated Paul Peake Pages 12, 17, 42 (masked owl), 87 Mark Ainsworth Page 62 Fisheries Victoria Page 65 DSE Page 83 Parks Victoria Pages 69, 88, 96 Tourism Victoria Page 91 Land Victoria Back Cover MESSAGE FROM THE COUNCIL The Otways region is one of Victoria’s most treasured areas. The Council expects that this Paper will provoke discussion Many people live and work in the region, many others retire and interest in the future of the region. It contains much there and, of course, many holiday there. It is one of the information gleaned from many sources and covers many State’s major tourist areas with attractions ranging from the issues which will interest stakeholders. We look forward to famous Great Ocean Road and some of the world’s finest further input from interested individuals and groups as we beaches to the beautiful hinterland with its waterfalls, prepare our Draft Proposals Paper and the Final Report to magnificent tall forests and ancient rainforest gullies. The go to the Minister. green and undulating farmlands, cleared with often heroic endeavour by the early settlers, are some of the richest and most picturesque agricultural lands in Australia. In September 2002, the State Government first gave the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) the task of making recommendations on whether the existing Dr Brian Robinson (Chairman) Angahook-Lorne State Park should be upgraded to a national park. Following commitments made during the election campaign in late 2002, the Government amended the Terms of Reference and in February 2003, the Council was asked to make boundary recommendations for a new national park including the existing Otway National Park Dr Sarah Ewing Dr David Mercer and the Angahook-Lorne State Park. The Council was also required to look at a number of other matters detailed in the Terms of Reference, particularly to recommend whether other parcels of land within the study area should be added to the park and reserve system. Mr Duncan Malcolm Mrs Eda Ritchie This Discussion Paper is the result of the work Council has done to date and will be followed by a Draft Proposals Paper in early 2004 and a Final Report to the Minister for the Environment in September 2004. Over 470 submissions were received by Council from members of the public and interest groups during the preparation of this Discussion Paper. These submissions contain a great deal of valuable information and represent the full range of community views on the future of public land use in the Otways. Many other Government agencies are also involved in future planning for the Otways. The development of the Great Ocean Road Region Strategy, the regional Catchment Management Strategy and strategies to manage tourist development in the area all rely heavily on community input and leadership. The Council is keenly aware of these strategic planning developments and work being done by local government and other bodies. Council will continue to work closely with these groups. The needs of people who live and work in the Otways and the possible effects of any proposed changes on their lives are of central concern to the Council. However, Council is also aware that all Victorians have an interest in and responsibility for the area. It is our task, with the assistance of both the local and broader communities, to consider all views and seek to develop recommendations that reflect the optimum combination of environmental, social and economic objectives for the area. ANGAHOOK-OTWAY DISCUSSION PAPER VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COUNCIL 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Council 1 Making Submissions on this Discussion Paper 3 Terms of Reference for the Investigation 4 Chapter 1 Introduction 5 Chapter 2 Current Public Land Use 10 Chapter 3 Values, Resources and Uses 36 Chapter 4 Community Views – An Overview of Submissions 70 Chapter 5 Strategic Issues 74 Chapter 6 Possible Approaches to Future Public Land Use 100 Glossary 106 References 109 Appendices 1. Matters that the Council must take into Consideration 111 2. Community Reference Group and Government Contact Group Members and Organisations 116 3. Natural Features Reserve Details 118 4. Protected Values in State Forest 121 5. Flora species of the Angahook-Otway study area 123 6. Fauna of the Angahook-Otway study area 161 7. Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance 171 8. Main EVCs of the Angahook-Otway study area 174 9. Reservation Status of EVCs in the Angahook-Otway study area 186 10. List of Submissions to the Notice of Investigation 188 Maps A: Angahook-Otway Current Public Land Use back pocket B: Angahook-Otway Pre-1750 Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) back pocket 1: Plan of the Angahook-Otway study area accompanying the Terms of Reference for the Investigation 7 2: Angahook-Otway Declared Water Catchments 34 3: Angahook-Otway Geomorphic Units 37 4: Angahook-Otway Fire History, 1939-2000 39 5: Angahook-Otway Bioregions 41 6: Angahook-Otway Old-Growth Forests 47 7: Angahook-Otway Local Government Areas and Statistical Local Areas 51 8: Angahook-Otway Extractive Industries, Mining and Petroleum Tenements 59 2 ANGAHOOK-OTWAY DISCUSSION PAPER VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COUNCIL THIS DISCUSSION PAPER This Discussion Paper is the first report published in VEAC’s Over 470 submissions have been received to date by VEAC and Angahook-Otway Investigation.